Rail-joint.



PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

I J. 0. BRIDGES.

RAIL JOINT. I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1907.

Qwwamlroz Wit JONAS ORVILLE BRIDGEQO'Fiibiiiigom, NORTH CAROLINA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14 1907.

Application filed January 24, 1907. Serial No. 353,859-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoNAs ORVILLE BRIDGES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mooresboro, in the county of Cleveland and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved means for connecting the abutting ends of rails whereby the latter are securely held against both lateral and vertical displacement.

The object of the invention is to accomplish this result by means of a joint which does not require the use of detachable members such as fish plates and bolts, the latter being objectionable since they are continually working loose. T 0 this end the rail ends are provided with peculiarly designed interlocking tenons which can only be .disconnected by turning one of the rails about its longitudinal axis.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail "joint constructed in accordance with the in- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one Fig. 3 1s a simllar vention. of the abutting rail ends.

view, the opposite rail end being shown in dotted lines as turned about its longitudinal axis and in the position assumed when making or breaking the joint. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the abutting rail ends, the same being shown as disconnected.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. 7

The numerals 1 and 2 designating the abuting rail ends, the web portions of the rails being shown as cut off square as indicated at 3, while the heads of the rails are provided with the interlocking tenons 4. In the specific construction of the tenons 4 it will be observed that the same have an approximately V-shape in plan and project from one side of the head, the opposite side of the head being formed with a recess 5 designed to receive the tenon projecting from the opposite rail end and having a V- shape corresponding to the same. The sides of the tenons 4 are constituted by the inclined walls 6 and 7 which meet at the lower edge thereof and cause the lower face of the tenons to have a beveled formation. Each of the recesses 5 is formed with the converging walls 8 and 9 which correspond respectively to the sides 6 and 7 of the tenons. The base or inner end of each of the tenons 4 extends partially over the mouth of the recess 5 whereby a triangular shoulder 10 is formed. hen the two rail ends are placed together the shoulders 10 bear against each other and give the tenons 4 a hooked relation which effectively prevents any longitudinal movement of the rail ends with respect to each other. Owing to the beveled formation of the tenons 4 it will be readily apparent that after the joint has been formed the rail ends can not be moved either vertically or laterally with respect to each other and that the joint can only be disconnected by turning one of the rails about its longitudinal axis as indicated in Fig. 3 until the-interlocking connection between the tenons is broken.

The base of each of the rail ends is provided upon one side of the web with a longitudinal extension 11, the lower portion. of which is preferably cut away as indicated at 12, and upon the opposite side of the web with a recess 13 designed to receive the extension 11 upon the abutting rail end. Corresponding notches 14 are formed in the overlapping portions of the bases of the rails, the said notches being designed to receive the spikes or tie engaging members 15. It will thus be ap parent that when the joint has been formed and the spikes 15 driven in position, the two rails are effectively prevented from being turned in such a manner as to break the interlocking connection between the tenons 4.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination of abutting rail ends, and interlocking beveled tenons carried by the rail ends and designed to be disconnected by turning one of the rails about its longitudinal axis.

The combination of abutting rail ends and beveled tenons projecting from the rail ends, the said beveled tenons having a hooked relation and having an interlocking connec tion which can be made or broken by turning one of the rails about its longitudinal axis.

3. The combination of abutting rail ends and approximately V-shaped tenons projecting a hooked relation and an interlocking connection which can be made or broken by turning one of the rails about its longitudinal axis.

4. The combination of abutting rail ends and approximately \l-shaped tenons projecting therefrom; the said tenons having the sides thereof beveled and having a hooked relation whereby an interlocking connection is produced.

5. The combination of the abutting ends of rails, and a tenon projecting from one side of each of the rails, the opposite side of each of the rails being formed with a recess corresponding to the tenon and the base of the tenon extending over the mouth of the recess whereby a shoulder is formed, the said shoulders upon the two rail ends engaging each other to produce an interlocking connection between the tenons.

6. The combination of abutting rail ends, each of said rail ends being formed upon one side with an approximately V-shaped tenon and upon the opposite side with a corresponding recess, the base of the tenon extending over the mouth of the recess whereby a shoulder is formed, the said shoulders upon the two rail ends engaging with each other to produce an interlocking connection between the tenons.

7. The combination of abutting rail ends, the head portions thereof being provided with approximately V-shape interlocking tenons designed to be disconnected by turning one of the rails about its longitudinal axis, while the base portions are provided with interlocking extensions.

In. testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JONAS ORVILLE BRIDGES.

Witnesses FRED D. HAMRIoK, J. H. QUINN. 

